Zero Day.

Hello everyone 

Here we are in Idyllwild on what is called a 

 Zero day-a day of zero steps toward our goal; just a bunch of useless steps going around in circles trying to reorient. Zero days are spent doing laundry, Showering and eating. The correct order is showering, laundry then eating unless of course we are famished then just imagine the order. 

    Yesterday was a slack pack day where we covered 19 miles. I was tired enough to be surly and quiet at the same time. A "Nero" day is a partial day off that includes some walking towards Canada.

     Tomorrow we climb up then start a 9000ft. Descent back into the desert going towards Palm Springs. Idyllwild has a famous climbing area associated with it (Suicide Rock and Taquitz). Diane and I can only look from a distance. We don't have the gear or energy come to think of it.

When I see rocks or large boulders I have a visceral response to them. I feel them on my skin even if they are miles away. I look for climbable places that have cracks, dihedrals or overhangs. I imagine myself on them and just appreciate their "rockiness"...this fucking phone won't let me type the words I want. Take the "i" out of the word in quotations above and then you will see the correct word. Rocks are not sentimental. When you break an ankle on them they do not morph into a mother's loving arms. They receive your blood uncomplainingly and stay the same except now they are stained. I love it that a rock is a rock. I am experiencing many rocks and loving them. They are not letting me back. There is nothing inauthentic about a rock.

      I don't know a lot about the flowers or plants I am seeing (ie.names,genus,species) but I am Astonished by them all. There is a bush I have named the buttercup bush because its flowers resemble buttercups. I saw a madrone tree that had been cut down and it's remains looked muscular like an Adonis statue. Prickly pear cactus are beginning to flower blood red. So much  colour and life here. 

     Two days ago Tidy Camper spotted a snake catch a lizard and eat it. Dirty Burly Girl watched the complete ingestion as TC walked on.

      Take a piece of paper and fold it in two. Draw zigzag lines from top to bottom. Draw these lines on both sides of the paper. Do that with a few pieces of paper and align them haphazardly. Follow the lines up and down over and over again. Now you have a picture of the paths we follow everyday. Never in a straight line, always circuitous. Two days ago we were walking this way and in the distance I could see zigzags going up and down hillsides for miles. My heart knew it was our path but my mind was trying to convince me those swathes in the distance were forest roads. They were so round about and not in the best direction but oh no, that was our path. up, down, around in circles. I am already getting used to this. Soon  there will be  no preferences.

       One last observation before I stand up and move. Remember that horny toad I told you about? Honestly, its' coloring and texture looked like a baby sparrow smashed against a rock. Same wet, soft look. Here DBG signing off for awhile. Loving you all from a healthy distance.

Tidy camper and I have had two massages in the last two weeks. I have not had two massages anywhere in the last two years. What's up with that? The first massage was done by a master it was incredible. The second massage was Swedish. It was Swedish. Rubbing rubbing and more rubbing. Tidy camper fell asleep immediately and had to be awakened at the end of her massage. Dirty burly girl was awake the whole time yakking and yakking. Clearly there was not enough pain. You all know what I'm talking about.

       Someday I'm going to talk about food and eating. Maybe next time the blog goes out I'll dedicate it to food my favorite thing. Good night .. fellow campers see you soon.

       One more thing, the three things that can make you run with a knapsack on are Boy Scouts ,Bears and the anticipation of food. Tune in for our next addition.